‘Banana Hero’ goes viral after car crashes into Orlando bar
By Olivia Russell
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ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — An Orlando woman is going viral after calling 911 while dressed in a banana costume.
Stephanie Oropeza and her fiancé were going home from a Halloween party when they witnessed the crash at The Moderne bar on Colonial Drive around 4 a.m. Saturday.
“I yelled at my fiancé. I was like, ‘You need to stop the car right now,’” Oropeza said. “And then we start running, and I’m on the phone with 911.”
The car slammed through tables, umbrellas and a fence outside the bar. The building itself was not damaged and no injuries were reported.
Oropeza did not realize surveillance cameras had captured her running toward the scene in the bright yellow costume.
“The last thing that would have occurred to me is that there was a surveillance camera and that the next day I’d wake up to ‘Banana Hero,’” she said.
The Moderne posted the surveillance video on social media while trying to identify the costumed caller. Management offered her a dinner as a thank-you.
The last-minute Halloween costume quickly turned Oropeza into a viral sensation. Oropeza said she has barely taken off the costume since Saturday and is enjoying her newfound fame.
Still, she hopes the attention highlights a more important lesson.
“I genuinely feel like I just did something that I hope most people do when you see someone in need — just help them out and call who you need to call so they can get the help they need,” Oropeza said. “Despite knowing them or not, despite being in a costume or not.”
Oropeza said the driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene and cooperated with police.
Management at The Moderne said it is also creating a banana-flavored specialty cocktail in Oropeza’s honor. The drink is expected to be added to the menu this week.
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